Evidence of Antarctic Glacier's Tipping Point Confirmed for First Time
upstart writes in with an IRC submission for c0lo:
Evidence of Antarctic glacier's tipping point confirmed for first time:
Researchers have confirmed for the first time that Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica could cross tipping points, leading to a rapid and irreversible retreat which would have significant consequences for global sea level.
Pine Island Glacier is a region of fast-flowing ice draining an area of West Antarctica approximately two thirds the size of the UK. The glacier is a particular cause for concern as it is losing more ice than any other glacier in Antarctica.
Currently, Pine Island Glacier together with its neighbouring Thwaites glacier are responsible for about 10% of the ongoing increase in global sea level.
Scientists have argued for some time that this region of Antarctica could reach a tipping point and undergo an irreversible retreat from which it could not recover. Such a retreat, once started, could lead to the collapse of the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which contains enough ice to raise global sea level by over three metres.
Journal Reference:
Rosier, Sebastian H. R., Reese, Ronja, Donges, Jonathan F., et al. The tipping points and early warning indicators for Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica [open], The Cryosphere (DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1501-2021)
Read more of this story at SoylentNews.